In just a few weeks, we’ll have a new presidential administration - and that could mean big changes for the Great Lakes.Environmental groups are waiting to see how Donald Trump's administration handles issues that are crucial to the region. [full story]

There’s a lot of frustration right now in Plattsburgh over the 2017 city budget. City councilors are trying to find ways to save money, but they disagree on where to cut expenses. About half of the budget amendments failed when they went up for a vote at a meeting last week. There were some other setbacks, too, and a number of heated exchanges. One thing councilors do agree on is a significant property tax increase. [full story]

OK Slip falls in the Adirondacks was closed to the public for decades. Thanks to a deal orchestrated by the Nature Conservancy, the trail is open now and it leads to glorious vista. [full story]

If you've visited Plattsburgh in the last year or so, you might've noticed an extra splash of color. That’s because a group of “artist activists” are painting new murals throughout the downtown. “I would say we’re gentle activists, more like a gentle revolution right now,” said Julia Devine with Outside Art, a not-for-profit that has funding from New York State and Clinton County. The group is creating public art in all shapes and sizes. “Large and small, really visible, and then maybe even [in] some secret spots too,” Devine said. There are now five murals in the city, and the group has plans for another project next summer. One of the murals is called “Woods and Wild Things.” It’s on the side of a bookstore downtown. Zach Hirsch joined the artists on the street, when they were painting back in June. [full story]

Across the Great Lakes, 2016 brought a lot of conflict, with battles over water diversion, petroleum pipelines and other issues. [full story]

About 200-anti-Carl Paladino protesters gathered in Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo yesterday.Last week, the real estate developer told a weekly newspaper he hoped President Obama would die from mad cow disease and that First lady Michelle Obama would return to being a male - among other comments. [full story]

Plants have many strategies for manipulating animals to do their bidding. Some flowers focus the attention of their pollinators with a familiar pick-me-up: caffeine. Martha Foley and Dr. Curt Stager discuss the natural world. [full story]

The biomass plant in Lewis County has a positive outlook for 2017, but big question marks after that. ReEnergy Holdings owns the plant in Lyonsdale that produces electricity from logging scraps. The plant’s future could have a big impact on loggers in the Tug Hill Plateau region. [full story]

Gov. Andrew Cuomo made a stop in Saranac Lake during a visit to the North Country this week. He toured the renovations at the Hotel Saranac and got a progress report from the contractors working to restore the landmark Main Street building. The state has committed $5 million to the hotel redevelopment. [full story]

A new exhibit at View, the multi-arts center in Old Forge, explores connections between the natural world and culture. Synthesizing Nature, an invitational exhibition, is on display through April 1, 2017. It's curated by View's Cory Card and Wes Sherman of the Center for Contemporary Art in New Jersey.The exhibition features work by 10 nationally and internationally acclaimed artists, and includes photography, painting, collage, sculpture, sound, and video. Cory Card told Todd Moe that the show is both an homage to nature and new ways that humans experience the natural world. [full story]